Pune: THREE YOUNG friends riding triple seat on a bike, who were on their way to Pune city for Ganesh festival celebrations, were killed in a hit and run accident after a private passenger bus knocked down their two wheeler on Pune Nashik Highway in the early hours of Saturday. The bus driver who fled the scene with the vehicle, was later stopped by local residents and later detained by the police. 

The accident took place around 1.30 am on Pune Nashik Highway at Shewalwadi village in Ambegaon taluka of Pune district. The deceased have been identified as Pratik Tukaram Gare (21), Tejas Maruti Ghode (21) and Karan Dnyaneshwar Dhengale (19), all residents of Ambegaon taluka. Police have detained Rajeshkumar Bholuram Gujar, who was driving the private bus plying between Nashik to Pune. The accident spot is around 65 kilometers from Pune City. 

"Initial information suggests that the three friends were on their way to Pune city for Ganesh festival celebrations. At Shewalwadi, their bike was hit by the bus from behind. The three fell down and sustained fatal injuries. After the accident, the driver fled with the bus. Some local residents chased the bus and stopped it a few kilometers from the accident spot. We subsequently detained him. We have booked him for rash driving, causing death due to negligence and provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act." said an officer from Manchar police station. 

Based on a complaint filed by Pratik's father, Tukaram Gare, a First Information report was registered at Manchar police station.